A Shout for the Dead (42 page)

The prince scowled and left.

'Will you let him attack tomorrow, Father?' asked Kessian.

'In a manner of speaking,' said Gorian. He smiled broadly and placed a hand on Kessian's shoulder, dropping to his haunches in front of him. 'Now I want you to go to sleep. We have a great deal to weary us tomorrow and every day until we each Estorr.'

Kessian felt a thrill of excitement. 'Estorr?'

'Just like I promised you. Didn't I promise you we'd be going to Estorr? We'll be staying here a while but you'll be seeing your mother as soon as I can make it happen.'

Kessian sucked back a sob. 'Thank you, Father, thank you.'

'I told you to trust me. And I haven't lied to you once, have I?'

'No. I'm sorry I doubted you.'

'Your journey is almost complete. But go to sleep now or every other pace will be more difficult.'

Kessian hurried across to his bed, thoughts of his mother, his friends and his sailing boat crowding his mind.

'What are you going to do?' he asked Gorian as he slipped under the blanket.

'I'll show you in the morning. Don't worry, I'll wake you.' Kessian closed his eyes and slept amidst the comfort of his memories.

General Davarov sat in a high tower in the royal castle of Haroq City and gazed out beyond the city walls to the east and Tsard. And he could not believe his memories nor the sight that was approaching deliberately and inexorably. Each time he looked through the magnifier he shuddered and rubbed at the wound on his shoulder. He'd been the only one standing in the face of them when he'd received it. And had it not been for some of his loyals determining to rescue him he would be just like those in the vanguard of the invasion force marching through Atreska.

Davarov had sent messages back to Estorr. Rumours were already reaching him of huge defeats in Gestern. Atreska once again was a battleground and the only solace was that it would not be one for long. The Tsardon had no interest in occupation. But there was tragedy in that. Because they would fight and kill every Atreskan or Conquord man they could on the way because that was how they would grow their army.

Davarov shook his head. Megan Hanev, his Marshal Defender, was at the Solastro Palace. He was the de facto ruler in her absence. And in less than a day, the forces he had assembled along the border had been humiliated. Slaughtered on one wing and routed into the hunting lands and the central forests on the centre and remaining wing.

The thought that he had never seen anything like it and could never have hoped to defend against it was of no comfort whatever. The notion that he was more scared of this than he had been of overwhelming Tsardon odds ten years before was one he faced with no shame.

He had no idea what to do, barring what was already done. They weren't coming to Haroq City. They were marching a little way to the north and would skirt the capital of Atreska unless attacked.

And Davarov knew he should attack.

'But what would be the point?' he asked.

'Of what, General?' asked his Master of Horse, Cartoganev, looking away from the magnifier. A man who had eschewed the opportunity to command, preferring to keep to the saddle.

'Of attacking them,' he said, gesturing out of the window. 'It is like fighting a flood by pouring water into the river. We get weaker, they get stronger.'

'But we would not be giving up.'

'No, we would not.'

'And there are thousands of Tsardon who I presume do not want to join the walking dead either,' said Cartoganev.

'But we can even the odds by merely keeping our distance. Or at least, not worsen them. I do not know what to do. I am unworthy of command.'

'Nothing is unworthy about you, barring that statement,' said Cartoganev. 'But within it lies a tactic' 'Go on.'

'We have been watching them, those of us who can bear it, from as close as we dare. They may walk, these dead, and they may fight unless we remove their capacity to do so. But in a most important way, they are clearly still dead. They decay. Every day, they get weaker. It is a slow process but it is definitely happening. We can clear a path for them. Ensure they meet no resistance. And we can try and find the one at the centre of the abomination.'

'I already know who that is. The air on the battlefield stank of rogue Ascendant.'

'Yes, but where is he? Remove him and you take the head from the monster.'

'But one day we must fight or this small army will march uncontested to the gates of Estorr.'

'And every day, we gather strength to place in their path when that day comes. Think, General. Today we are fractured, in twenty days we might not be.'

Davarov smiled at last. 'Aye, and in twenty days, we can have tactics and weapons to combat them. All right, let's get messages to anyone ahead of them north to Gosland, south to Gestern and let's you and I take our legions west ahead of them. We'll do it your way, Master Cartoganev, or we'll perish in the trying.'

Cartoganev nodded.

'One thing.'

'Yes, General?'

'I will not become one of them. If I fall, I want my body burned if it cannot be dismembered. Do I make myself clear?'

The cavalryman sucked on his top lip, frowning. 'Burning? My General, do you know what you're saying?'

'That I would rather end my cycle of life forever than walk against my friends as one of the dead? Yes, I think you could say that I do. Well?'

'Orders are orders,' said Cartoganev. 'Yes. Indeed they are.'

Chapter Twenty-Nine

859th cycle of God, 36th day of
Genasrise

Nunan's extraordinarii had formed a ring around the base of the crag path. Thirty of them prepared to keep back as many legionaries as they needed to. A case of naphtha stood behind them out of sight but Nunan had authorised its use if the anger turned to riot. Kell and the cavalry were on horseback and had formed a line in front of them. Down the slope on the front lines, multiple fires burned, to throw the crag base into as much shadow as possible to hide the ascent of the fortunate.

What had begun peacefully as a tap on the shoulder following discussions with centurions had been slowly unpicking as the import of not being chosen sank home in the chill hours of night. Entreaties and desperate pleas had to be ignored. Every man and woman had people who would miss them should they not survive the break-out. But it didn't dampen the personal feelings of betrayal and Nunan was beginning to fear a total breakdown of order. Swords were not as yet unsheathed but the numbers breaking off from their duties on the pickets and in the trees as defence were worrying.

Nunan walked to the line of cavalry. A legionary of the principes was jabbing a finger in his direction and berating Dina. Thirty more stood around him, looking jealously at the lines of those waiting to ascend the crag.

'Oh, and here he comes now,' said the legionary. 'One of the fortunate few, I have no doubt.'

'Fortunate?' said Nunan, moving in front of Kell. 'I would gladly give you the great luck I had being one of those tasked with choosing who ascends and who does not. And yes I am one of those making the climb. My wife, as you will be aware, is not. Explain my fortune, legionary.'

'You have a chance to escape greater than mine. That is your fortune.' The soldier's face was full of anger and desperation. His body so taut his hands shook,
‘I
am expected to stand and die.'

Nunan nodded. 'Yes. Yes you are. As every time you stand and fight for your country. But that does not mean that you will. You are a Bear Claw. You are Conquord elite. And the Conquord expects you to do your duty. Tell me, when was it your courage failed?'

The man stepped forward a pace. 'My courage will never fail. It is those who run up the crag who you should question. Look inside yourself.'

Nunan drew his gladius. 'You should choose the words you speak to your commanding officer with greater care. I can end your life sooner if that is what you wish. I would prefer for you to stand a hero so that others I have ordered
...
ordered, I will repeat
...
to climb can do so.' He rested his gladius on the man's breastplate,
‘I
asked for volunteers to stand in defence. Every soldier in the triarii raised a hand. But I need them if I am to reach Estorr. So I asked again. Your hand did not go up. Not many did. So I had to choose. You were one of those chosen because your centurion believed you strong enough to stand before the Tsardon and not to run until the order. Was your centurion wrong?'

'He was not.'

'Then why are you standing before me, begging for a place in the line?' Nunan let his sword drop. 'We need the Claws to stand more than ever.'

'We should have broken out already. More would live.'
‘I
will not discuss matters of command with you.' The legionary gestured over his shoulder.

'No, but you will with Del Aglios the heretic. And we are expected to die for him too.'

Nunan grabbed the man by the throat, surprising him by the move. He coughed and staggered back. Behind Nunan, swords came from scabbards and the cavalry readied.

'We will all die to save the son of the Advocate and you will not say another word. You might be desperate but you will not talk of Roberto Del Aglios in that way again or I will execute you myself.' He turned to his guards. 'Take this man and see he is isolated. He is of no use to the Claws and is dishonourably discharged.'

The legionary spat on the ground at Nunan's feet. Nunan didn't break his gaze.

'And now you will have no weapon with which to defend yourself either. No civilian fights. No civilian makes the ascent.' He shoved the man back. 'Anyone else care to join him?'

Nunan heard footsteps behind him as he watched the crowd begin to lose its ire. A hand was on his shoulder.

'May I?' asked Roberto.

Nunan nodded. Roberto stepped in front of him. He was ashen-faced and red-eyed. His armour, though, was polished, his cloak perfect about his shoulders, gladius at his waist. He walked up and down in front of them, looking each in the eye, daring them to speak.

'Is there anyone any of you can point to and say that you would not lay down your life for them? Is there a one amongst you who truly believes that they should make the ascent instead of one who is already chosen? You know there is not, yet you let your base fear overwhelm you. You are soldiers of the Conquord.

'You feel yourselves doomed but you are not. You have a chance yet when dawn comes. General Kell will take the cavalry and try to punch a hole in the Tsardon lines so that you might escape. It will take luck and courage but you have a chance. While you are contemplating occupying the Tsardon forces, I should tell you what I will be doing. I will be killing my own brother and cutting off his head and legs.' Roberto stopped and Nunan could see him steeling himself not to break down. The silence in front of him was palpable. He continued.

'I will be doing that because he has no chance and because he cannot become one of the walking dead. He has no chance because he, like the hundreds of others for whom the same fate awaits, stood in front of
you
when the hurricane and the dead struck. Adranis Del Aglios, without thought for himself, rode into battle to save you. He will die as a result.

'You want to talk to me about fairness and about chance and choice? I'll be at my brother's side.'

Roberto turned and stalked back through the cavalry line. Nunan faced the crowd but they would not face him. Every eye studied the ground. Nunan cleared his throat but his voice was still gruff when he spoke.

'Get back to your posts.'

Gorian awoke to silence. He felt refreshed and ready. His only regret was that he had not been able to act in the depths of night but even for him there was a limit to how much he might do. Fot Kessian, too. Lord Garanth had been able to channel much useful information before his body had been removed. Some would escape. But not all.

Across the room, the boy still slept. Gorian rose and put his feet on the cold stone floor. The fire in the grate was long dead and the room was chilly. He walked across to Kessian and sat on his bed.

'Today is the beginning of everything I've been dreaming about since I found out you were alive,' he said, stroking the boy's hair. 'Today people will see that what we have done thus far is but preamble and testing. I am ready. And you are ready to stand by my side. Time to wake up to your destiny.'

Gorian teased Kessian's life map open and fed in a gentle heat. Kessian opened his eyes. He didn't recoil like he had done so often in the past when he saw Gorian so close on awakening. Gorian smiled.